Bracelet or other jewel



June 14, 1938. G. BE-ZAULT BRACELET OR OTHER JEWEL Original Filed Feb. 16, 1937 INVENTOR. Georges Bezau It ATTORNEY.

Patented a... 14, 1938 ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRACELET OR OTHER JEWEL Georges Bezault, Juvisy,

tier, 1110., New York 4 Claims.

The present invention is a bracelet or other jewel having a plurality of jointed elements capable of moving angularly with respect to one another when it is desired to put on or remove the jewel, this application constituting a division of application Serial No. 125,955, filed February 16, 1937 on Bracelets or other jewels.

Ihis bracelet has, in the state of rest, the general shape of a split annular element and the jointed parts thereof are associated with springs which, in the position of rest, determine the relative positions of said parts, in such manner as to ensure that the whole assumes this form of a split annular element. However, it is possible to pivot the jointed parts of the bracelet with respect to one another against the action of said springs, so as to move the ends of the bracelet away from each other, and thus permit of putting on or removing said bracelet, which is not possible in the case of rigid annular split bracelets.

Such a bracelet can be fitted exactly to the size of the wrist or ankle, Without involving any difficulty for putting on or removing said bracelet.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the hinges are constituted by male and female surfaces of revolution assembled around a common axis of revolution and flush with the external surface of the bracelet. With such an arrangement, it is possible, by carefully working the parts, to wholly conceal these joints in the position of rest of the bracelet. If said bracket is too big or includes ornaments projecting to a considerable distance from the outer surface thereof, and if, consequently, it is difficult to make use of the arrangement just above set forth, the limited value of the relative angular displacements of the contiguous parts will however permit of hiding the spaces between said parts by means of covering pieces easy to make. Therefore, in all cases, it is possible to give the bracelet, if so desired, the aspect of an annular element made of a single piece.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of some specific embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a bracelet made according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational View in which the France, assignor to Car- New York, N. Y., a corporation of uary 16, 1937, Serial No. this application March ,224. In France Februedges limiting the various marked in strong lines;

Figures 3 and 4 are detail vie spectively, bracelet;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the bracelet in the state of rest;

Figure 6 is an analogous view, the bracelet being deformed so as to permit of putting it on or of removing it; p

Figure 7 is an elevational vi scale, with parts cut away, of a detail of the pivoting connection of two adjacent parts and of the arrangement of the springs;

Figures 8 and 9 are diagrammatic plan views relating to modifications.

As shown by Figures 1 to 7, the bracelet includes a plurality of parts I, 2, 3, 4, 5 pivoted to one another through axes 6 engaging in knuckles provided in the common cent parts. the drawing, bracelet (Fig adapted to fl of the other knuckles jointed parts have been We showin retwo adjacent jointed parts of the 5 ew, on an enlarged Thus, in the example illustrated by one of the parts or elements of'the ure 3) includes a central knuckle 1 t in a recess 8 provided in the edge element (Figure 4) between two 9. The two elements connected together by the insertion of assembling pin 6 into knuckles l and 9 can thus pivot with respect to each other. The knuckles 9 of one of the elements are recessed at Ill transversely to the pivoting axis and corresponding recesses are provided at H in the other element. In these recesses are engaged spring blades l2 which have, in the state of rest, a curvature corresponding to that of the annularshaped bracelet and which apply against one another the inner faces (such as 1a and 8a, Figures 3 and 4) of the ridges of the adjoining elements. With this arrangement, the various jointed elements occupy, in the state of rest, relative positions such that the bracelet has the appearance of a split annular structure, as shown by Figure 1. By carefully machining the ridges of the elements, and possibly by providing a suitable ornamentation of the surface of the bracelet, it is possible to conceal these ridges.

In order to put on the bracelet or to remove it, it suflices to move the end elements I and 5 away from each other, which produces relative angular displacements of the elements of the bracelet against the elastic action of the springs. Left to itself, the bracelet returns into its initial shape. In order to avoid exaggerate relative rotations of the elements, which might cause the springs to break, it is advantageous to provide, on the ridges of the joints, projections such as edges of adja-- 20- l3 (Figure 3) engaging in holes l4 (Figure 4) the edges of which parallel to the pivot pin form abutments for projections l3.

In the above described embodiment, the hinge surfaces are constituted by male and female cylinder portions jointed about their common pivoting axis 6 and tangent to the external surface of the elements (see Figures 1 and 6), which facilitates the concealment of the ridges between contiguous elements.

But it may occur that, in the case of very bi bracelets or of bracelets the ornamentation of which projects to a considerable distance from the body thereof, this kind of articulation can no longer be employed. In this case, as shown by Figure 8, I provide, in the state of rest, angles 15 between the contiguous elements so as to permit of their pivoting with respect to one another despite the eccentric position of the pivoting axes. However, these angles are the smaller as the number of articulated elements is greater. When they are small it is easier to conceal them by means of covering elements such as I6 (Figure 9) the cheeks 16a of which are pivoted about pins Gor rigid with one of the contiguous elements, whereby the bracelet keeps the appearance of a structure made of a single piece.

If a watch is carried by one of the elements of the bracelet, the latter constitutes a wrist watch the fixation of which to the arm is both simple and original.

Of course, the idea of dividing an annular structure into a plurality of jointed elements provided with return springs can, according to the present invention, be applied to collars or other jewels or ornaments.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of jewelry, and especially a bracelet, which comprises, in combination, a series of chambered elements pivotally connected to one another and having openings in the joints between them, and leaf springs positioned Within certain of said elements and extending through the said openings into adjacent elements and bearing against the walls of the latter to urge said elements toward their relative positions for which the whole assumes the general shape of a split annular structure.

2. An article of jewelry, and especially a bracelet, which comprises, in combination, a series of chambered elements pivotally connected to one another about parallel axes so as to form a jointed band with openings in the elements at the joints, cooperating stops formed on the adjacent ends of the respective elements arranged in such manner that when said respective stops are in contact, the whole of said elements forms a split annular structure, which'can be opened by forcing the ends thereof from each other, and leaf springs positioned within certain elements and extending through said openings into adjacent elements and bearing against the walls of the latter for urging said respective stops against each other.

3. An article of jewelry according to claim 2 further including covering devices carried by each of said elements and arranged to bridge the joint formed between the outer parts of said elements when said jewel is in the position of maximum curvature.

4. An article of jewelry according to claim 2 in which each spring is carried by one element and acts directly upon the inside surface of the adjacent element.

GEORGES BEZAULT. 

